Sports betting might be liberalized in Germany

According with insiders, good news could come up for sports betting from the last meeting in Stuttgart between budget and financial speakers of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union. It seems that an agreement was reached to abolish the state monopoly on sports betting, but to allow the national lottery to continue its operations. The Union parties’ spokespersons have consequently followed the lead given by the CDU grouping in the Kiel state parliament, which presented draft legislation on the liberalization of the sports betting market in March 2007

The Union’s fiscal policymakers believe that the liberalisation of sports betting should be accompanied by the levying of a special incentive tax. It is to be ring-fenced on the basis of the player’s place of abode and will thus assure the federal states a source of revenue from sports betting. This will provide continued funding for mass sport, charities, culture and addiction prevention measures.

According with an official press realease by FLUXX, Rainer Jacken, Management Board spokesman said:

“It shows that common sense and economic realism are increasingly gaining ground in connection with the
planned State Treaty on gaming. We believe court rulings and political opinions are coming to acknowledge the grave concerns already voiced by the EU Commission. Nobody now wants to be made responsible for a sharp but
unnecessary slump in revenue and the impending legal chaos in both Germany and Europe.”